Last month, authorities in Russia reported on asymptomatic H5N8 avian influenza in seven workers involved in depletion of laying hens infected with H5N8 HPAI from a farm in Astrakhan. Despite a report on the apparent seroconversion of workers, the World Health Organization (WHO) considers it unlikely that the infection represents a risk to either consumers or those involved in poultry production and there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
H5N8 avian influenza is widely distributed in Europe, Eurasia, and Asia and there have been no reports of any illness among workers on poultry farms or those involved in depletion of infected flocks.
It is obvious that the report from Russia will intensify surveillance among humans in contact with infected poultry but should not elicit concern among consumers. Appropriate prevention measures against infection by donning PPE should be followed.